Sept. 25 – Oct. 4, 2026
Free admission • Multiple locations
The 26th annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from across the globe.
This free, city-wide festival features artists from around the world at iconic venues around Chicago including the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, bringing even more diversity to Chicago’s already rich music festival schedule.
The festival embraces well-known stars and emerging artists in genres that range from traditional to contemporary. You can hear everything at the World Music Festival — from Indian classical music to Bulgarian bagpipes and Congolese funk.
World Music Festival 2026 lineup and schedule
This year’s World Music Festival lineup includes more than 50 unique artists and groups from across the globe. Highlights of this year’s schedule include Ragamala, an all-night celebration of Indian music, and the World Peace Picnic in Humboldt Park to close out the festival.
World Music Festival 2026
Friday, Sept. 25
Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music
Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
78 E. Washington Street, 3rd Floor
6 p.m. – 8 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Beatdown Sound System’s Vibrations of Freedom
Tom (Ping) Memorial Park
300 W. 19th St. beneath the 18th Street bridge
1 – 7 p.m.
All ages
Elida Almeida (Cabo Verde)
Luciano Antonio & Heitor Garcia (Chicago/Brazil)
Martyrs’
3855 N. Lincoln Ave
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+
Sunday, Sept. 27
From Bomba to Salsa: Back to the Roots with:
Joaquin Garcia (Chicago) and
Bomberxs d’Cora (Chicago/Puerto Rico)
Chicago Riverwalk – The Confluence
342 W. Wacker Dr.
2 p.m. show
All ages
Rumbo Tumba (Argentina)
Ana Everling: Solo Session (Chicago/Moldova)
Three Top Lounge
1357 N. Elston Ave
5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show
21+
Monday, Sept. 28
An Evening with The Saami Brothers (Pakistan)
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
915 E. 60th St
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All ages
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Sangjaru (South Korea)
Saraswathi Ranganathan & Tzu-Tsen Wu (Chicago/India/Taiwan)
South Asia Institute
1925 S. Michigan Ave.
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All ages
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Ballaké Sissoko and Piers Faccini (Mali/England)
Minyo Crusaders (Japan)
Old Town School of Folk Music, Mauer Hall
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All ages
Thursday, Oct. 1
Asase Yaa (NY/West Africa)
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (Chicago)
Orchestra Azania Drum (Chicago)
The Kehrein Center for the Arts
5628 W. Washington Blvd
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All ages
Friday, Oct. 2
Grupo Rebolu (NY/Colombia)
Radio Free Honduras (Chicago/Honduras)
Chop Shop + 1st Ward Events
2033 W. North Ave.
8:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+
Saturday, Oct. 3
The Klezmatics (NY)
Los Vega (Mexico)
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W. 111th St
1:30 p.m. doors, 2 p.m. show|
All ages
Saha Gnawa (NY/Morocco)
Chamni Sripraram Thai Music Ensemble (Chicago/Thailand)
Sleeping Village
3734 W. Belmont Ave
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+
Sunday, Oct. 4
Global Peace Party
Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (outdoor)
1440 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Noon – 5 p.m.
All ages
- Mary Hazboun Ensemble (Chicago/Middle East)
- Gyedu-Blay Ambolley (Ghana)
- El Laberinto del Coco (Puerto Rico)
Check out more top music festivals happening in Chicago throughout the year.
